Coláiste Chú Chulainn
Coláiste Chú Chulainn is a secondary school irish-medium in Louth. 885 pupils, Multi-denominational ethos, 3 special classes, DEIS Post-primary.
The facts
| Type | Secondary school |
|---|---|
| Gender | Mixed |
| Ethos | Multi-denominational |
| Patron | Louth & Meath ETB |
| Fees | Free |
| Enrolment | 885 (531 boys, 354 girls) 2025/26 |
| Language of instruction | Irish Unit in English Medium School |
| DEIS | Yes — Post-primary |
| Roll number | 76195U |
| Eircode | A91F75P |
| Address | Lower Marshes, Dundalk, CO. LOUTH |
What DEIS means here
DEIS Post-primary. This is extra staffing, a Home School Community Liaison coordinator, School Completion Programme access, enhanced capitation, free State exam fees, and eligibility for the HEAR Scheme for reduced-points college entry.
Post-primary DEIS benefits: Free State examination fees for Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate, Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) coordinator, School Completion Programme, and eligibility for the HEAR Scheme (Higher Education Access Route) offering reserved university places at reduced CAO points across Irish universities.
Worth knowing: several things people associate with DEIS are now available in every school. Schoolbooks are free at primary and post-primary regardless of DEIS status, and since 2025 all primary schools are eligible for the hot school meals programme. What remains specific to DEIS is the staffing — reduced class sizes in Urban Band 1, the Home School Community Liaison coordinator, School Completion Programme access and enhanced capitation.
Band as published in the Department's DEIS list, last revised 2022-10-12.
Special classes
3 special classes sanctioned for 26/27:
- 2 × Autism/Autistic Spectrum Disorders
- 1 × Autism Inclusion Class
1 of these are newly sanctioned for 26/27, up from 2 classes last year.
Source: National Council for Special Education. Children in a special class travel under a separate transport scheme with its own rules.
The area around this school
School planning area: Dundalk. This is how the Department plans where to build capacity. It is not a catchment.
Local house prices: the median residential sale price in Eircode district A91 (Dundalk) was €332,000 in 2025. That is up 54.4% since 2020. CSO figures for the whole district, not the streets beside the school.
Area profile: the Pobal HP Deprivation Index rates Dundalk No. 4 Urban at -6.5 (Marginally Below Average), where 0 is the national average. 34% of adults there hold a third-level qualification.
Contact
| Principal | Tomas Sharkey |
|---|---|
| Phone | 0429354553 |
| colaistecc@lmetb.ie | |
| Local authority | Louth County Council |
Other schools in Dundalk
- Bellurgan N S Primary school, Louth
- C.B.S. Primary Primary school, Louth
- Castletown Rd Convent Primary school, Louth
- Colaiste Rís Secondary school, Louth
- De La Salle College Secondary school, Louth
- Dromiskin Mixed N S Primary school, Louth
- Dulargy Mixed N S Primary school, Louth
- Dun Dealgan N S Primary school, Louth
- Dundalk Grammar School Secondary school, Louth
- Faughart Community National School Primary school, Louth
- Gaelscoil Dhun Dealgan Primary school, Louth
- Knockbridge Mixed N S Primary school, Louth
How we know
DoE Schools GIS 2026 (CC BY 4.0) — checked 2026-08-27.